One of these was the repeal of the British Navigation Laws which had given English ships a monopoly of the trade between London and the British East Indies, and the other was the discovery of gold in California.

After centuries of pomp and power, the great East India Company had been deprived of its last exclusive rights afloat in 1833.
Its ponderous, frigate-built merchantmen ceased to dominate the British commerce with China and India and were sold or broken up.

All British ships were now free to engage in this trade, but the spirit and customs of the old regime still strongly survived.

Flying the house-flags of private owners, the East Indiamen and China tea ships were still built and manned like frigates, slow, comfortable, snugging down for the night under reduced sail.

There was no competition to arouse them until the last barrier of the Navigation Laws was let down and they had to meet the Yankee clipper with the tea trade as the huge stake.
Then at last it was farewell to the gallant old Indianian and her ornate, dignified prestige.